The wife of convicted killer Michael Steele has spoken of the family's devastation after he lost his appeal.

Steele, 63, of Great Bentley, and Jack Whomes, 42, of Brockford, Suffolk, are serving life sentences for the notorious Essex Boys murders.

They denied killing Patrick Tate, Anthony Tucker and Craige Rolfe at Rettendon in 1995 but were convicted after a trial.

When they appeared before Appeal Court judges in London yesterday, they heard their appeals against the convictions had been dismissed.

Steele's wife, Jackie, who still lives in the Tendring area, said they were totally devastated.

"When we left the court in January, everyone on Mick's team was absolutely certain the convictions would be quashed," she said.

Mrs Steele promised it would not be the end of the fight and that an application was to be made to the House of Lords and, if that failed, the European Courts.

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Published Thursday, February 23, 2006

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